OBJECTIVES : Type 2 diabetes, represents a considerable burden for both the patient and the health insurance system. Our aim was to determine the annual health insurance treatment cost of non-insulin-dependent diabetes with multiple complications in Hungary.

METHODS : Data were derived from the financial database of the NHIFA, for the year 2018. Data analysed included annual health insurance costs, patient numbers and cost distribution calculated for age groups and sex. The following cost categories were included into the study: general practice care, home care, in- and outpatient care, medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and medical aids. Patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes with multiple complications were identified with the following code of the International Classification of Diseases 10^th revision: E1170.

RESULTS : In 2018, the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration spent 4.81 billion Hungarian Forints (HUF) on the treatment of patients with diabetes with multiple complications [17.80 million American Dollars (USD), or 15.09 million Euros (EUR)]. 50.4% of costs was spent on the treatment of male, 49.6% on female patients. The highest patient numbers were in general practice care: 30,028 men (48.1%), 32,355 women (51.9%) in total 62,383 patients. Pharmaceuticals (74.9% of total health insurance costs in men, 72.2% in women), medical aids (6.9% in men, 8.1% in women) and outpatient care (6.9% in men, 6.4 % in women) were the main cost drivers, while all other forms of medical care amounted to 11.2% in men and 13.1% in women. Annual health care treatment cost per patient was 80.711 HUF (299 USD/253 EUR) in men and 73.778 HUF (273 USD/231 EUR) in women.

CONCLUSIONS : Pharmaceuticals were the major cost drivers. Major cost drivers showed no difference between men and women. Average annual health insurance costs per patient was 9% higher in men.